Week One of Whole 30

If you follow me on instagram then you already know that I recently started the Whole30 program. I don't really want to get into what it is because it would take forever so let me just direct you to their lovely website where you can get ALL the info on the Whole30 program. I actually bought the book and read through their website and a couple blogs before I started because I didn't want to just start something without knowing it fully so if you're thinking about starting Whole30 I recommend you do the same, it will only make things easier.
What I want to share with you all is what I ate, how I prepared, and how I felt after week one. I started this journey for a variety of reasons: -to be healthy -to loose weight -to battle my sugar addiction -to change my eating habits -to feel better
I have always been a yo-yo dieter. I am pretty good at loosing weight when I have to but just as easily gain it back and I am just so tired of that cycle. Not only that but in the last couple of years I've become lactose intolerant and my gut has just been all kinds of messed up from all of the junk I keep feeding it so I decided enough was enough. I knew that what I ate not only messed me up physically but also emotionally. 
THE FOOD
I love to eat. Food and me have a love/hate relationship and it's been that way since I can remember. I love healthy food, I love greasy food... I don't hate. I love it all! (well not all but almost.) So eating healthy has never been a problem for me, I love salads and I love veggies but my problem is I also love the greasy and the sweet. So week one was tough, it was tough not having that sweet after every meal, not being able to just open my pantry and reach for a bag of chips or lick my fingers when I smeared PB&J on them making my kids sandwiches. It was tough. Here is what I ate though and I enjoyed every single meal. As for drinks I ONLY drink water with each and every meal. That's another tough one because I am addicted to sweet tea and lemonade.
DAY ONE //

breakfast | two fried eggs in coconut oil and sweet potato hash (sweet potatoes + red peppers sauteed in coconut oil topped and fresh cracked pepper). 

lunch | grilled chicken tenders, avocado, brocoli slaw (pre-packaged heb organics) topped with lemon/olive oil mix, cherry tomatoes, carrots, and red peppers.

dinner | stuffed red peppers with ground beef/mushrooms/peppers/onions. 

Followed this recipe for cooking instructions only but the stuffing is my own.

DAY TWO // 

breakfast | boiled egg, avocado, banana, strawberries, blueberries

lunch | leftover pepper, carrots, tomatoes, avocado

dinner | one pot chicken and potatoes (recipe here)

DAY THREE //

breakfast | two eggs fried in coconut oil topped with fresh salsa, sauteed mushrooms/spinach/onion and avocado. 

NO PICTURE

lunch | tuna, onion, jalapeno, tomato and lime juice

dinner | paleo chili topped with avocado (recipe here but I cooked mine in crock pot)

DAY FOUR //

NO PICTURE

breakfast | boiled egg and banana

lunch | leftover chili

dinner | potatoes and tuna 

recipe: 

ingredients: 2 cans of tuna, potatoes (about 2-3), tomato, clove of garlic, onion, salt + pepper, coconut oil

method: blend garlic and tomato with just enough water to blend and set aside. cook potatoes and onions in coconut oil in a pan and season with sat and pepper, once potatoes are soft add drained tuna and also season, once tuna is grilled add tomato blend. Let it simmer for about 4-5mins and enjoy!

DAY FIVE //

breakfast | two fried eggs in coconut oil topped with salsa, sweet potato hash and avocado

NO PICTURE

Lunch was Chipotle and Dinner was a boiled egg and a Larabar

WEEKEND | I went out of town that weekend so I made another batch of chili and took it with me along with fruit and larabars. I ate chipotle again for dinner before returning home. 

HOW I FELT

I felt great physically and emotionally. My stomach felt better than ever. I didn't have to suck in my stomach once. I had no bloating, no gas, no pain. I just felt good. Sure the cravings were strong but I remembered the results of the food I was eating and that kept me from quitting. At the end of the week I lost 5lbs. I know that whole 30 is not about weighing yourself or loosing weight but it is one of my motivations and just the fact that I lost 5lbs in ne week by changing my diet makes me want to keep going. 

HOW I PREPPED 

I write my menu plan for the week on Sunday. I make a list of the meals I want to make everyday, mostly for dinner because eggs and lefotvers are what I usually have for breakfast and lunch. I like going to my pinterest board for recipes. Since I love trying new recipes this keeps me motivated during the week and excited for dinner. I try to make at least 2 of the meals from pinterest recipes. Then based on my menu for the week I write another list with my grocery list. I put things for the kiddos on there. Our kids eat the same thing we do for dinner but their breakfasts and lunches are their own. I always prepare their food first and serve them and then I prepare my own so usually by the time they are eating I'm preparing and then we all sit down for dinner together and eat the same thing. 

I won't be doing a weekly update but I plan to do one at the end of my 30 days. I love the results so far and I can't wait to see more changes by the end of the program. If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment. This is my very first whole 30 so I am in no way an expert but I'd love to help out in any way I can. 

If you are on instagram make sure to follow me as I love to share photos of my food there!